Universal joint



Aug. 7. 192s. 1,679,700

M. w. WYSONG UNIVERSAL JOINT l Filed Feb.1a, 1926 s sheets-sheet l M- Pvfyyson- 7 r( 417, Grammy Aug. 7. 1928.

M. w. WYSONG UNIvEsAL JoINT Filed Feb. 18. 192s 5 Sheets-Shave?.l 2

Aug. 7, 1928.

M. W. WYSONG UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Feb. 18. 1926 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 7. 1928.

M. w. wYscNG UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Feb. 18. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 :www/@gonzagg (uw www mum",

LIllmlllll Allg. 7,1928. 1,679,700

M. w. wYsoNG UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Feb.1a. 1926 5 Simms-snaai4 5 Gamm Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITEUSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAXWELL W. WYsoNG, 0E NORTH rnAINFiELE, NEW JERSEY, vA'ssIGNoE 0E oNE- HALF-TO HERBERT C POOLE, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

\ UNivEBsALJoISNT.

Application nlearbruaryis, 192e. serial No. 89,149..

This invention relates to an improved unif versal joint especially designed for -use in connection with motor vehicles, motor boats, Arailway cars, power units,

seeks, among other objects, tok provide a joint wherein the joint shaftwill be slidably supported to rock about one axis and pivot'- ally supported to'rock about another axis, the axes being maintained always at right angles to each other tov thusv insure a substantiallyy perfect functioning of the joint A further object of the invention is to provide a joint which may `be adjusted, to take up wear on the bearing surfaces of the relatively movable parts of the joint so that any undue looseness in any direction may be effectually eliminated. j,

Still another object of the invention is to provide a joint which may be balanced to ar nicety.

And the invention seeks, asa still furtherobject, to provide a joint which will be selflubricating and which-will bev oil-tight `as well as dust-proof. 'i

Other objects of the invention not specifically mentionedv in theforegoing, will 'apg pear during the course of the following description.- In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viow through my improved joint. y

Figure-2 is a vertical longitudinal 4sec tional view through the joint at arightangle to the section of Figure l. c Y Figure 3 isa view similarto Figure 1, and showing the-movement fof the.' joint shaft in one plane. Y j 1 Figure /l-` is a view similar jto Figure 2, and showing the movement of the joint shaft in a plane at a right angle to -theplane of movement shown in Figure 3.r y i Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional vView through the joint shell and showing the balancing pins.v v

Figure 6 `is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in thezdirection indicated by the arrows.r vFigure 7 is a'detail sectional view through the joint and particularly showing the shoes employed. i

Figure Sis a the shoes. Y

Figure/8EL i's a'fragmentary Velevation 'pardetail elevation of lone of or the like, and

ticularly showing the reinforcing Webs .ony

the end capof the joint. I

ingi Washer employed.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the washer. n

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View showing how the shafts of a pair of the joints may be joinedto afford a short connection for special machines, thisy view also illustrating, in dotted lines, the manner in which an extra', largeshaft'tubing may be connected to the shaft of a joint. j

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing vthe joint shaft formed with a tapered terminal.' c c Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevation showing the joint shaft f formed with a splined terminal.V i Y .v Figure 14 is fragmentary elevation partly broken away 'and .shown in section to illustrate the manner in which a spline sleeve may be connected tothe' joint shaft to receive a spline shaft.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary elevation showing a spline propeller shaft adapted tov elevation v:is Figure 9 is a'plan vlew of'a typical lock- Figure 17 is a sectional' viewconthel line.

17--17A of' Figure 16, looking in the directionnindicated bythe arrows. f

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 16 andillustrating Athe manner in which the joint shaft may be provided with a spline socket terminal.

Figure 19 is a detail viewy partly in eleva-y tion and partly in section and showing the joint shaftfas provided with a solid termmal.` l

vIn carrying the employ a cylindrical shell 10 which is rounded at one endl andprovided with a radial iange 11' apertured toreceive bolts or other suitable lfastening vdevices connecting the lshell with a driving element. Surrounding an axial o eningV at the adjacent* end of the shell is a lpilot flange 12 andsaid opening 1s counterbored at its inner end to` form a seat for a bearing cup' lhavin'g va invention into effect, I

spherical inner ace,the shell being provided with an internal flange 1lito surround the cup. 'lhe cup is, of course, rigidly lixed in position and disposed behind the cup is la shiin 11i.

Slidably litting in the open end o'll the shell is a companion annular bearing cup 15 having a spherical inner lace, and mating with said cup is an end cap 16 screwed over lthe shell, the cap being` provided with a series oi" circumterentially spaced ribs 17 extending parallel to the axis oit' the cap. As will be observed, the cap is stepped to snugly surround the cup, and torn'ied on the cap at its inner circumference is an inturned annular flange 13 while the cup is channeled annulaitlange 1 while the cup is channeled at its outer end to snugly receive said flange. Uniting the tapand cu) is a ring ot solder 19 lying in the'angle between the flange 13 and Vthe outer end face oi the cup.

Extending into the shell is a shaft 2O shown in Figures 1, 2, 3and et of the drawings as prm'idcd with a head or terminal 21 to whichl connected a driven elen'ient or propeller shaft, as indicated at lntegral with the shaft 2O is a substantially hemispherical l'iearing llange or member 9,3 iittin the spherical inner tace ot the cup 15, and termed on the shaft at its inner end is a closed rectangular' yoke Rising 'from the inner end bar oi said yoke is a knob-like beziiring member which is provided with a spherical end tace to lit the spherical inner iaceoi the cup 13 so that, as will be seen, the bearing members 23 and 25 of the shaft are thus contined between the cups 13 and 15 for supporting the shaft in centered relation within the shell.` Formed in the inner Ytace ot the cup 15 is an annular groove in which i is seated an alpapropriate gasket 2G which placemc: t by suitable keys.

coacts with the bearing' :member 23 l'or eX- clading dust as well as retaining lubricant within the shell 10.

Snugly fitting in the yoke 2411 o'l the shaft 21 is a spool-shaped core 2'? having a central tt-shaped groove 23 anchas shown in Figure 2, the core cut away `at the liront and rear thereot, along parallel planes, to be snugly` received between the end bars of the yoke. Extending transversely through the side bars of the yoke and through said core is a center pin rigidly connecting the core with the yoke and secured against endwise dis This pin intersects the axis of the shaft 20 at right angles and the groove Q3 of the core is accurately torinedto extend ,in concentric relation to the axis of said pin. Slidably iitting in the groove 2301 the core are `companion segmentalshoes 30, Aone of which is shown in detailin Figure 3.A These shoes are substantially .lit-shaped in cross section to lie flat against the side walls ot said groove and termed inthe shoes are Iconical sockets 31.

Formed on the shell 10 at opposite sides thereof, as seen in Figure 2, are bosses 3 and screwed through said bosses are pivot pins 33 which, as shown in Figure 7, are

provided with conical inner terminals 34 9 and 10 et the drawings. 'lhese'washers lil? are preiterably struck trom suitable resilient v sheet metal and are provided with radial V-shaj ed ribs 39 to coact with the bosses as well as with spring tongues ll() to ceac-t with the nuts so that said washers will thus function to securely lock the nuts in adj usted position. Projecting from the washers are radial spring lugs l-loverlying the end cap 16 and pressed from said lugs are sockets 1-i2 to selectively receive the ribs 17 of said cap. Thus, as will be perceived, the wasl ers 38 will, in addition to locking the'nutsr?, also 'function to lock the end cap in adjustec position. Formed on the end cap, as seen in Figure 3a, is a series of circuinifcrentially spaced webs 113 which not only serve to re int-orce said cap but are so disposed that a spanner wrench may be engaged with said lugs for adjusting the cap.

Lying in the angle between the shell 10 kand flange 11 a series oi spaced reinforcing webs le and termed through certain ot said webs to enter the shell are vpassages 45 through which lubricant may be introduced into the shell. Screwed into the outer ends of said passages are balancing pins 46 closing said passages. As will be perceived, these pins may be adjusted for balancing the shell with respect to its axis of rotation, and screwed on said pins are lock rnuts 17 se cured in adjusted position by appropriate lockingwashers 13. In use, the shell is `filled preferably about two-thirds full with heavy grease, and positioned in the groove 23 ot the core 27 between the ends ot 'thev shoes 30 are librous packings 49 which are sata# rated with light lubricating oil, lfhus, the joint is well lubricated and, of course, when the joint is rotated, the grease and oil will be thrown about within the joint by centritn ugal l'orcet'or maintaining the joint lubricated. Furthermore, as the shaft 2O is rocked'about the axis ot' the pin29, the packings L19 will be alternately compressed and released by the shoes 30 so that thelight lubricating oil will be alternately pressed `from said packings and drawn up thereby, to be thus pumped about within the joint for maintainin0l the parts lubricated,

As. will now be seen in view of the fore-A l slidably support the shaft20 to rock about the axis vof the pin 29in a plane at a right angle to the formerplane of movement of the shaft, and attention is .now directed tov lthe fact that the pins `33 and shoes 30,' in

conjunction with the bearing members 23 and. 25 and'bearing cups 13 and 15, vwill function to centralize the shaft with respect to the shell and maintain the two axes of' movement of the shaft at a right angle to each other. Practically ideal functioning of the joint is thus assured. By adjustment of the cap. 16 inwardly on the shell 10,1 the bearing cup 15 may be advanced to takeup wear on the bearing members 23 and 25 as well as wear on said cup and the cup 13 and, if necessaryone or more additional shims may be inserted behind the cup 13 for maintaining the axis of the pin29 in the plane of the axes of the pins 33. Similarly, the pins 33 may be adjustably advanced for taking up' wear lon the core-27 and shoes 30 yas well asl on the terminals 34 .of said pins. Accordingly, provision is made whereby any looseness occurring between any of the bearing surfaces of they joint may be taken up so that, throughout the period of service of the joint, lost motion maybe readily eliminated. f,

The shaftterminal 21, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, is hollow'jto mate with the tubular. shaft 22,:andl the shafts are welded together in accordance with the process set forth in my co-pendingV application iiledFebruary 18, 1926,'Serial No. 89,151, for flash butt-welded joint and process of welding same, a core, as indicated at 50, being employed. This core has also been made the subject ofarseparate 'application, filed February 18,1926, SerialfNo.

' In Figure `11y of lthe drawings, I yhave shown the manner-iIi-which the shaftsV ofa pair of joints may be joined to afford a short connection for y s pecial machines.` As illus'-VK trated, the cups-15-fand caps 16,are' firstl assembled upon 'the joint shafts 20, when the shafts are electrically butt-'welded at their free ends for integrally uniting the shafts. It is, as will be seen, imperative that before the shafts are welded, the cups 15 and caps 16 be assembled upon the shafts since otherwise it wouldbe impossible to arrange these parts in place. In any instance where an extra large tubing such, forV instance, as illustrated vin dotted lines at 51, is to be welded to the shaft of a joint, a stub shaft V52 isV welded to one end of the'tubing, when the stub shaft maythenbe welded,

lshown'at 53,`to the shaft of the joint.,

In Figure 12 of the drawings, the 'joint shaft 20 is shown as formed with a tapered Vterminal 54 having-a suitable keyway, iwhile in Figure 13, the shaft 20 is shown as formed with a spline terminal 55, and, as'will be understood, the terminal 55 may be provided with-any approved number of splines.

InfkFigure 14, I Vhave shown the manner inwhich aspline sleeve l56 maybe attached to the head 21 of the joint shaft to provide the shaftv with a splined 'sleeve terminal. The sleeve is first breached when the sleeve is.` electrically butt-Welded, in :accordance with my improved process, to vsaidhead,`a

`core57, like' the core`50, being employed.

Disposedin the cavityl at theinner endof the sleeve is av felt or other pliable packing 57a, and 4screwed vthrough the wall of the.

head 'at'.the. inner end ofsaid cavity -is aiiller plug 57". The cavity is filled with heavy' grease and the packing saturated with 'light lubricating oil, the filler plug .being pro-V vided soV thatfadditional oil may befconveniently introduced from time to time as may be required. Figure 15 shows a spline rshaft 58 adapted to fitl in the sleeve 56, the

shaft 58 being welded, in accordance--with my improved process, to one end of a propeller shaftf59, a co1e60, like the core50, being employed. AThe' sleeven56, as well as vthe shaft-58may, of course, be' provided withany approvednumber of splines, and, as Ywillnow be seen, as theshaft shifts lin vthe sleeve, the oil and grease will be pumped or forced about and between' the splines. Thus, the',parts will,V almostindefinitely, bethoroughly.'v lubricated ,automatically while dust and grit will be excluded. i 'f f 'In Figures 16 and 17, lI havel shown the joint shaft 20 as formed with ahead 61 having parallel side lugs 62, andv fiXedtosa-id vhead is a tapered socket `63 having a suitable keyway and provided with side lugs 64 electrically butt-welded to the lugs 62. The shaft is thusprovided with atapered socket terminal and, as shownl in dotted lines a Figure 16, the space .between the inner end of the socket Vand the head 61 is amply sufficient to accommodate a nut securing one v end of a'propeller shaft insaid socket; In'

Figure 18, the joint shaft 20 .is shown as provided with ahead v65 having side'lugs 66 like the lugs 62, and fixed to said head is sus` a spline socket 67 having lugs 68 electrically welded to the lugs 66, the shaft being thus provided with a spline socket terminal. This socket may, as will be understood,'be

formed with any suitable number of splines and is, of course, breached before being at# tached to the shaft.

v In Figure 19, I have shown the joint shaft 2O as Vprovided with a solid terminal 69. In

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thus providing the shaft With a solid terminal, said terminal can be foimed with any kind of taper, may be round or square, or may be machined with six, eight, or ten splines,kor any oth-er approved number of splines, While a solid shaft may be electrically butt-Welded to said terminal.

.Having thus described the invention, what l claim is:

l. A universal joint including a shell, a shaft extending therein, a core carried by the shaft, shoes. slidably coacting with the core and having tapered sockets therein, and pivot pins carried by the shell and pivotally engaging in the sockets in the shoes, the shoesbeing rotatable on said pins whereby the shaft may rock about the axes of the pins and slidably supporting the core whereby the shaft may rock about an axis extending at a right angle to the axes of said pins.

2. A universal joint includinga shell, a shaft extending therein and provided With a yoke, a core fixed in'said yoke and provided With a peripheral groove, shoes slidably fitting in said groove, and pivot pins carried by the shell to coact with said shoes, the shoes being adapted to turn on said pins whereby the shaft may rock about the axes of the pins and slidably supporting'tlie core `whereby the shaft may rock about an axis at a rightangle to the axes of said`pins.

3. A universal joint including a shell, a shaft extending therein, a core carried by the shaft, shoes slidably coacting with the core, and vpivot pins carried by the shell and rotatably supporting the shoes whereby the shaft may rock about the axes of said pins` and may also rock about an axis at a right angle tothe axes of said pins, the pins being adjustable-for taking up play in the direction of the axes of the pins,

l. A universal joint including a shell, a shaft, vextending therein, a core carried by the shaft, slices slidably coacting with the core, pivot pins carried by the shell to coact With the shoes, the shoes being rotatable on said pins whereby the shaft may rock about the axes of said pins and slidably supporting the core whereby the shaft may rock about an axis at a right angle to the axes of the pins, and lubricant packings vcarried by the core and disposed to be coinpressed by said shoes as the shaft is rocked about the latter axis.

5. A universal joint comprising a shell, a bearing cup Within the shell having a conin unison, anda bearingeleinent upon the.

yoke havingl a convex surface coacting with the first mentioned bearing cup.

`6. A universal joint comprising a shell, a bearing cup Within the shell, a shaft extending into the shell and having a bearing perf (ill tion coacting with the said cup to guide the shaft for lsubstantially. universal angular movement, a core 'upon the shaft having guiding grooves therein, slices vslidably mounted in the grooves, pivot elements carried by the shell and coacting With the said shoes, and yieldable,packing in said grooves at the opposite ends of theshoes.

7. A universal joint comprising a` shell, a bearing cup Within the shell,a shaft extending into the shell and having a bearing portion coacting with the said cup to guide the shaft for substantially universal angular movement, a core upon 'the shaft having guiding grooves therein, shoes slidably mounted in the grooves, pivot elements carried by the shell and coacting With the said shoes, yieldable packing in said grooves at the opposite ends of the shoes, and vmeans upon the shaft opposing the ends of the shoes and constituting an abutment for ther packnig. n l n 8.' A universal joint comprising a shell, opposed bearing members in said shell, a shaft extending into the shell and having spaced bearing portions coacting'xvith the' bearing members to support the'shaft for substantially universal angular movement with respect to the shell, and means connectingthe shell and shaft for rotation in unison, the said means comprising a yoke upon the shaft between the said bearing por#A tions, a core removably supported in the yoke andfhaving a circumferential groove,

shoes fitting in the'groove anddisposed atv opposite sides of the core, and pivot elements fixed With relation to the shell and axially alined and engagingsaid shoes. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MAXX/WELL lV. VYSONGI [Lssf] 

